Manual testing is often seen as outdated, but that's far from the truth.
While automation helps speed up testing and provides clear pass/fail results, it's just one piece of the puzzle. True testing goes beyond automation- it's about making sure the software meets all requirements, including user experience (UI/UX), localization, and certification standards.
However, despite obvious benefits, there are also some drawbacks. We will discuss them in detail, along with some best practices. Let’s start!
Manual testing is a type of software testing where human testers manually execute test cases to check the functionality and quality of a software application. It is a process of identifying defects or bugs without using any automated tools. Manual testing can be performed at various stages of the software development life cycle; however, it may not suit each phase perfectly.
During the testing process, testers create and execute test cases, record any issues, and provide feedback on the software's usability, performance, and functionality.
They use their knowledge, experience, and creativity to ensure the software meets the requirements and specifications.
Testers simulate real-world scenarios and apply different testing methods, such as exploratory testing, regression testing, and ad hoc testing, to thoroughly evaluate the software.
Here are some of the advantages that manual testing offers:
Since manual testing is done by humans, they can use their intuition and experience to explore the software in ways automated tests cannot. Testers can assess the application based on set criteria and provide a human touch, which is crucial for understanding the user experience.
They can also evaluate various aspects such as usability, overall user experience, and other subjective factors that automated tests might miss.
Manual testing is highly flexible and perfect for dynamic projects where requirements might change. Human testers can quickly adapt to new changes and evaluate the software according to the updated features or scenarios. In contrast, automated testing requires rewriting and reprogramming scripts whenever changes occur, which can be time-consuming and less adaptable.
Manual testing is cost-effective, especially for small projects or when system requirements are unclear. It doesn't require investing in expensive tools or automation frameworks, which helps keep testing costs low.
Manual testing is simple and provides immediate feedback on new features and bug fixes. Testers can access the application, assess the impact of changes, and directly share their insights with developers, making the development process smoother.
Additionally, manual testers can spot defects during development, uncovering bugs that automated tests might miss, ensuring a more reliable user experience.
Manual test execution encourages detailed documentation of test scenarios, data, logs, and outcomes, which enhances quality and repeatability.
While it requires more effort, human testing still excels over full automation for certain types of testing, such as:
In automated testing, test cases are predetermined, and the application is evaluated based on those cases. However, in manual testing, testers have the freedom to design their test cases, boundary conditions, and negative scenarios that may be difficult to automate.
This approach allows for more comprehensive test coverage and ensures the software is validated under various conditions.
While manual testing has a lot of advantages, it also has some limitations:
Every scenario in manual testing requires human intervention, making it much slower than automated testing, especially for large or complex applications. This can create a bottleneck in the testing process and extend the overall development cycle.
Manual testing is highly prone to human errors due to varying levels of attention to detail, experience, and possible fatigue of testers. Testers can easily overlook mistakes, especially during repetitive and monotonous tasks, leading to inconsistent and inaccurate test results.
While test coverage can be high and detailed, it often focuses on requirement-based tests. In complex systems, thoroughly testing all scenarios can be impractical, leaving some areas inadequately tested.
Manual testing requires more time because testers need to personally verify every feature and function of a program.
This process is slower compared to automated testing, which can be run quickly and even overnight without supervision.
Managing large-scale projects with manual testing is challenging due to the need for highly skilled human resources and significant time investment. Scaling manual testing for big projects without sufficient staff can lead to bottlenecks, inconsistencies, and missed deadlines.
While automated testing is becoming more popular, manual testing still plays a crucial role in many situations. Here are some scenarios where manual testing is the best approach:
Here are the steps you need to follow to perform manual testing:
In the first stage, testers review user requirements and design documents.
For example, if they are working on a wellness app, they start by carefully examining the user stories and design mockups to understand the app's functionality and user flow.
After that, a test plan that outlines the test objectives, the test strategy, all the necessary resources, and expected timelines is created.
With Global App Testing, you can ensure your software is user-friendly and of a high-quality:
In the second step, testers design the test cases, such as user login, profile creation, and in-app purchases. This also includes specifying the steps to be executed, the expected results, and any prerequisites or required test data. For instance – entering valid and invalid credentials and verifying expected outcomes like successful login or error messages.
Testers then set up the test environment by configuring the necessary hardware, software, and network settings. This step also includes installing the application, databases, web servers, and other components needed for testing.
In the case of a mobile app, one important step is to prepare a suite of devices representing various screen sizes and operating systems to ensure comprehensive coverage.
With everything in place, testers execute the test cases and document the actual results. They interact with the application's user interface and check its behavior against the expected outcomes.
To uncover any anomalies, they try to simulate user interactions like swiping motions, tapping buttons, entering text, and navigating through different screens.
With GAT, you can elevate your software quality with comprehensive test case execution:
Any defects or issues found during test execution are recorded and reported to the relevant teams for fixing.
Reports include screenshots, testing conditions, and details of the faults. After that, developers analyze these issues and determine how to resolve them as quickly as possible.
In the final stage, the testing team conducts a final review to confirm that all test cases have been executed and documented. They cross-reference the test summary reports with the initial test plan to ensure complete coverage and compliance with project requirements. Finally, they sign off on the testing phase, marking its closure.
Looking forward, manual testing will continue to be a vital part of software testing.
While it might change and adapt over time, the human insight it provides will always be essential for creating a great user experience.
Manual testing works alongside automated testing to ensure that software is not only technically sound but also user-friendly and enjoyable to use.
Global App Testing offers a comprehensive platform designed to address various software quality assurance (QA) and engineering challenges.
With a range of testing services you can find bugs and defects in any stage of app development
With over 90,000 testers across 190+ countries and territories, we conduct tests on real devices and software environments.
Additionally, we can assist you with:
Are you interested to learn more? Contact our specialist today to see how we can boost your manual testing!
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